Located a block from Times Square, One Bryant Park's lighting designers—Cline Bettridge Bernstein—had the unenviable task of creating a nighttime presence for this high-rise office tower, one that would not only make its mark on the New York skyline, but also adhere to the LEED Platinum building's sustainable mandates.

Following the tradition of great Chicago high-rise office buildings, 155 North Wacker Drive first roots itself to the street with a grand lobby and atrium before it begins its 46-story climb toward the sky.

Like a cabinet of curiosities, the Cushing Center—home to Dr. Harvey Cushing's collection of human brain specimens, one of the most unique and significant medical collections of the 20th century—slowly reveals itself to visitors.

More 2011 Design Awards

Daylighting is one of the most challenging lighting strategies to implement. This year, the jury was torn between two projects that it felt exemplified different thinking about daylighting design—the poetic and the functional.

It might appear to some that creative explorations and quality-lit environments would be harder to come by these days given shorter project time lines, stricter energy requirements, and tighter budgets.